Remind me that this is still normal...please?

sunandsand

I know most babies are born with their days/nights mixed, but still at 7 weeks?

LO is awake longer periods at night than during the day. In the AM she will sleep a few hours, wake to eat, and go back to sleep. She may stay awake 1 hour, tops. No amount of trying to keep her awake will keep her awake. We keep her in the living room in a lighted, noisy room. Infact, I believe she sleeps to tune out my noisy 2 year old. Too overstimulated.

In the evening she will stay awake from 3/4-7 (too long, I know, but its my busy time of making dinner/bathing DS/putting him to bed), and this is the time when she wants to be held, so every time I put her down to do something, she gets upset and this prevents her from sleeping. 

She crashes around 7-8pm as soon as I get DS to bed. I am in bed by 9 after cleaning and pumping, and she is awake at midnight. This is her longest stretch of sleep all day. She wants to be awake from 12-2, then sleeps for 2 hours and gets up again. DS is up for the day at 7AM.

My pedi says we should be establishing a bedtime routine and transitioning to a pnp or crib, but my DH works nights and its hard enough to just follow my DS's routine, and I can't get DD to sleep anywhere but the vibrating chair.  

Did I mention I go back to work in a week? Any tips?

knmommy

Best advice I ever got from our pediatrician.  Put her down every 3 hours.  Sometimes she will go to sleep other times she won't.  It worked. 

JenniC1135

My kids, especially the twins, were the same way.  HSHHC said not to keep them up longer than 2 hours and mine could barely make an hour.  You mentioned light & noise during the day, but what are you doing at night?  I kept it as pitch black as possible, did not talk or coo to them at night when I went in to feed, didn't change them unless they pooped or were really soaked, didn't unswaddle them (are you swaddling?) and with DS2 I remember also avoiding looking into his eyes when he nursed at night.  Anything to keep it from being remotely stimulating.  I wouldn't worry about where she sleeps - vibrating seat, swing, whatever.  Fight that battle once you have her sleeping longer stretches.  Two of mine slept in swings for at least 6 months.

meghans30

Yes, it seems normal. You seem to be doing everything right. Have you tried starting a night time routine for her, even if she doesn't necessarily sleep though the night? Bath, rub with lotion, quiet time, a book... Maybe what you already do with your son. This may help her to understand that nigh is for sleep and day is for being awake. 

When she does wake, keep things dark and quiet so she begins to learn the difference. I hope you find something that works, because I would be stressed as well with having to go back to work. 

veloelle

I wore DS a lot at home. I couldn't get anything done otherwise. I'd have him in the carrier and prep dinner, make lunch/snacks for DD. Having a carrier was a life saver. I"d also use it at night to walk and get him back to sleep, actually I used the sling w/ both kids in the middle of the night, walking the floors and the backyard!

Agree on not stressing about her still being in the chair. I'd focus on one thing at a time. Get her days/nights established then transition.